Thank you for contacting me about a libel claim made against Michelle Donelan.

When he entered Downing Street, Rishi Sunak said he would lead a government of integrity, so I share your sense of outrage about this squalid episode. Once again, the Prime Minister has demonstrated no interest in demanding accountability from a member of his Cabinet, with taxpayers left to pick up the bill.

Michelle Donelan has admitted that there was no need to publicly hurl unfounded abuse at an academic. That she chose to do so in pursuit of a so-called ‘war on woke’ tells us everything we need to know about the priorities of a Secretary of State who should be standing up for the scientific community, not trying to hound them out of their jobs for no reason at all.

The very least she could do is pay back the £15,000 this grave error of judgement has cost the taxpayer, as Labour have called for. But we all know that she won’t, because she represents a government and a Prime Minister that treat taxpayers’ money like a personal slush fund and don’t believe in being held accountable for their mistakes.

Frankly, this is a government that has given up any sense of governing in the best interests of the country, which is why I will continue to call for a general election so that the British people can have their say. But please rest assured that, whether in opposition or in government, I will always stand up for accountability and integrity in public life.